Beaten convincingly in the first match, the Nice team had to completely reverse the momentum in this second installment of the quarter-finals. Unfortunately, Brice Donat’s men lost again, three sets to one.
Just two days after the heavy opening defeat (3-0), the NVB returned to the court at the Grenon hall with the goal of bouncing back. Facing them was a Tours team unbeaten against Nice since 2016 and determined to take a strong lead in the qualification race. In a series best of five matches, the second encounter was already crucial for the Azuréens, seeking an upset on the road.
## A Blazing Start by NVB
The Niçois approached this second match with a completely different attitude. Against a favored TVB team carried by its certainties, NVB started off with a bang. Merrick McHenry and Simon Hirsch were incisive from the first exchanges. The result: Nice took the lead in the score (7-5), and consolidated it (10-8).
But the home team responded. Thanks to a series of winning serves, the Tourangeaux came back level (10-10). At 12-12, a controversial ball reignited tensions: TVB players disputed a referee’s decision after a ball appeared to touch the ground before being played. The first timeout was called in a charged atmosphere.
Nice, far from losing focus, continued to set the pace. Lars Migge and his teammates exploited Tours’ nervousness and regained a two-point lead (15-13), then widened the gap further (17-14). The battle was tight, with each point contested like the 18-17, won by Nice after a thrilling exchange between blocks and rallies.
Despite a comeback attempt from TVB, Nice remained sturdy. The Aiglons pulled ahead (24-19), before seeing Tours dangerously claw back (24-22). But this time, Brice Donat’s men did not falter. They clinched the set authoritatively at 25-23.
## The Expected TVB Response
Hurt in their pride after losing the first set, the Tourangeaux returned with renewed intensity in the second set. Quickly, the defending finalist restored equilibrium. After a tightly contested set start (7-5), TVB ramped up its game. The Niçois, less sharp at the net and in defense, bore the full brunt of Tours’ resurgence.
The Tourangeau steamroller was set in motion. With a string of winning serves, well-placed attacks, and effective blocks, Tours strung together a series of seven consecutive points to build an unbridgeable gap (13-5). The Aiglons seemed stunned, unable to stop the bleeding.
With a ten-point lead (17-7), the home team dominated the play while Nice struggled to find their rhythm. Overwhelmed in all game aspects, Brice Donat’s men let this second set slip away without a real fight. TVB wrapped it up decisively, 25-12, leveling the series.
## Tours Takes Control
Tours confirmed their rise in power in this third set. Right from the start, their attacks hit the mark. Tours took the lead (5-2), imposing a high tempo that pressured Nice’s receiving. NVB tried to react and came back to 8-7. But hope was short-lived. Tours accelerated again, tightened their defense, and capitalized on Nice’s errors. The result: a new gap opened, with Nice unable to close it (17-10).
Brice Donat multiplied instructions from the bench, but his players seemed powerless against Tours’ command. TVB cruised through the final exchanges, buoyed by a boisterous crowd. At 21-14, the outcome was almost certain. A few minutes later, the set ended: 25-17 for Tours, who took the advantage two sets to one.
## The Suspense Was Short-lived
With their back to the wall after two dropped sets, the Niçois began this fourth set with renewed energy. For the first time since the opening set, NVB managed to take the lead, thanks to their strong presence at the net and attacking precision. Nice led 4-3, then 7-6, causing doubt in a momentarily unsettled Tours. But Nice’s bright spell didn’t last. TVB got back on track, encouraged by a cheering crowd. Brice Donat’s men tried to hold on, but momentum had shifted. TVB dominated the final exchanges, closing the fourth set 25-19, thus finishing the match.
With two defeats in as many matches, NVB now faces a must-win situation. Next Saturday, at home this time, the Niçois must win to stay alive in these quarter-finals.
## Match Stats:
– Match Duration: 1h48
– Total Points: Tours 98-73 Nice
– Top Scorer for Tours: Ryan Sclater with 16 points
– Top Scorer for Nice: Alexandros Raptis with 13 points
– Tours’ Successful Attack Percentage: 52%
– Nice’s Successful Attack Percentage: 32%
– Successful Blocks for Tours: 4
– Successful Blocks for Nice: 4.
